# Lyall's angelica (*Angelica arguta*)

Lyall's angelica is a tall, leafy plant that grows in cool, wet places. Its big green leaves and white flowers make it a pretty sight in nature!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Wetlands

![Lyall's angelica](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/50173459/medium.jpeg)

Photo: mfeaver, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/50173459)

## Appearance

The Lyall's angelica is a tall, sturdy plant with large, umbrella-shaped clusters of tiny white or cream flowers. Its prominent flat-topped flower heads, called umbels, can grow quite wide, making it visually stand out in its mountain habitat.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Apiales
- **Family:** Apiaceae
- **Genus:** Angelica

## Interesting facts

- Indigenous peoples traditionally used its roots for food and medicine!
- Its name, "Angelica," comes from "angel-like" due to its historical medicinal uses!
- Some \*Angelica\* seeds can float, traveling far on water currents to new places!
- This plant belongs to the same family as carrots and celery, the Apiaceae!

## Special abilities

- **Sun Seeker:** Lyall's angelica can grow up to 2 meters tall to reach sunlight, ensuring its large leaves capture maximum energy for growth.
- **Pollinator Beacon:** Lyall's angelica has wide, flat flower clusters that act like landing pads, attracting many different insects at once for efficient pollination.
- **Hollow Power:** Lyall's angelica has strong, hollow stems that provide lightweight yet sturdy support, helping it stand tall even in windy conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-200 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** Two-form bumblebee (*Bombus bifarius*) — visits flowers for nectar
- **Eaten by:** [Mule deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses its leaves and stems

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not touch or eat plants without asking an adult first.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Lyall's angelica?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Lyall's angelica?

50-200 cm

### How wide does Lyall's angelica spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Lyall's angelica?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does Lyall's angelica bloom?

Summer

### Is Lyall's angelica edible?

Yes

### Is Lyall's angelica toxic?

Mild

### What is Lyall's angelica's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Nancy Greene Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nancy-greene-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Lyall's angelica: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lyalls-angelica)